Winter Tires

[jiggersplat]

So I've got a set of 08 18" rims with a set of nearly new blizzaks. They don't fit over the Akebono's. Not sure what to do with them. I really want something with alittle more sidewall than my 20's for driving around DC in the winter 'cause the potholes here are pretty serioues. Anyone got an suggestions or wanna trade me some factory 19's?

[Ilya]

Perhaps wheel spacers? Might make them stick out a bit and hence fit over the caliper? 5 or 10mm?

[jiggersplat]

It's the diameter that's the problem (at least based on the Akebono brake template on the concept Z store website). Spacers won't help, though I would need them if the diameter were sufficient. I suppose I should go and *actually* try it and make sure.

[BlackCat81]

It's the diameter that's the problem (at least based on the Akebono brake template on the concept Z store website). Spacers won't help, though I would need them if the diameter were sufficient. I suppose I should go and *actually* try it and make sure.

Don't worry about trying it, they won't fit even with spacers. The barrels of the rims aren't big enough, no matter how much spacer you use.

[jiggersplat]

Bugger.

[szh]

You might want to buy some ultra cheap steel 19" wheels for these tires and sell the 18" ones that came with the snow tires. Then you won't care if they get a bit damaged with salt and gravel either.

Maybe the folks Tire Rack can make a recommendation ... give them a call!

Z

[myother45isalesbaer]

Why don't you go back to what the factory recommended. Everything on that car was engineered to work right with the wheels and tires it came with. Work within those parameters with your mods. My OP is don't mod the car unless you are going to do a "Fast n' Loud" complete rebuild. I lived in DC too. Most years except for this one the snow is light. The potholes were not that bad when I was there. You could always take the Metro or buy a junker. Szh suggestion sounds good to me as another alternative. If it were me I'd do exactly what Szh suggested.

[jiggersplat]

I've never seen 19" steel wheels and I doubt there is a set of steel wheels out there that will clear the Akebono's. I'm picking up a set of the factory 19's from the Q50 (should clear the Akebono's without spacers) and trying to sell the 18's on craiglist.

[szh]

Give Tire Rack a call and see if they can recommend a low-cost 19" wheel rather than getting the factory ones (which could be expensive?).

Z

[jiggersplat]

They have some cast wheels for about $180pc x 4 plus shipping... getting the OEM ones off of craigslist locally for $750 and less worried about bending the OEM rims on a pothole.

[szh]

They have some cast wheels for about $180pc x 4 plus shipping... getting the OEM ones off of craigslist locally for $750 and less worried about bending the OEM rims on a pothole.

Ah! Good enough.

Z

[jiggersplat]

Pick up a set yesterday... clear the akebono's just fine. I am not normally a fan of chrome, but these don't look too bad... they are the "black chrome". They came with some RE050's in staggered sizes so now I gotta unload those and the factory 18's with the blizzaks. I should open a used wheel and tire shop pretty soon.

[The00Dustin]

I am selling my winter tires and rims. In doing this, I had to research what I actually have. Since they seemed fine on my 2006 M45 for two winters and I have all the information available, I thought it should be OK to post a link to the sell thread, which contains all of the specifications. As such, here it is:
set-of-4-225-55r17-bridgestone-blizzak- ... 17582.html